Altamar Apartments, Puerto Rico, Canary Islands

Hotel Information

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User Rating:
8.5 / 10
(117 User Reviews)
Hotel Class: Altamar Apartments Studios ReviewsAltamar Apartments Studios Reviews

Hotel Description:

Set in the hill side at the top of the mountian, over looking the sea. Kids club also available, self catering or half board available. Two outdoor pools. Lively entertainment, shop on site. Local beaches a taxis ride away for the price of about 1.50 depending on which beach as they are all sandy beaches.
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Altamar Apartments Reviews

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" fantastic "

ive b een goin 2 gran canaria puerto rico 4 ova the past 8 years been 2 many apt and my best hols have been at the altamar the space in the apt are brill the view amazing entertainment fantastic by big gaz bingo bingo all the staff are gr8 we have recommended the altamar 2 plenty people we havent had any bad results wee always try and get 2 the altamar 3 times a year the only thing ive noticed ova the past 18months puerto rico has been very quiet thats 2 do wae the euro bein bad see u all in april would have been dec but got otha comitments ( adios amigos)

Advice: great 4 walkin beaches brill entertainment fab

Activities: squires 4 there burgers , sabadans 4 there half chick ,royal oak 4 sun dinner mcdonalds 4 chick nugg

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    8 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Apr 2009
  • Board Basis:Self Catering
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" Excellent "

Me and my two mates booked a late week away for some sunshine and a break away from the English weather. When we arrived we thought it was fantastic, better than we ever expected. The hotel had two large pools which were very clean. The rooms were very well equipped, especially the kitchen. We were all inclusive but if we were self catering then all appliances were provided. Rooms were cleaned at least every other day and new towels were provided. The food was great. Fabulous selection even for the fussiest of eaters. The staff were pleasant and there was entertainment on every night ranging from animal shows to singing competitions. I would say it was better than a three star. Would definitely recommend it and I would go back again.

Advice: Gorgeous place, definitely recommend it

Activities: The beaches were lovely to visit and there are various bars which were very lively

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    9 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" Very good but could do better "

Just returned back from Puerto Rico Hotel Altimar, brilliant weather all week, easy to sun burn but pleasant heat with gentle warm winds, didn’t drop below 25 deg at night.
As for the Altimar, it’s a brilliant view, clean; beds changed 5 days out of 7.
Food had a very wide variety, fruit bar, and lots of fresh breads, salad bar, and meat counter, could eat as much as you wanted and everything tasted from ok to top class.
The only bad part about the food, was majority of time the food was lukewarm, even if you came down at various times the food was still unacceptably cold, unless you like eating cold pork chops (they were well done however) covered in lukewarm gravy.
It’s such a shame, because the cooks are really good, all it requires is better facilities to keep the food hot.
Hot plates would have be nice instead of the cold ones you picked up, however there is probably a health and safety issues there, perhaps get the waiters to serve hot plates to the table?.
Waiters could be mistaken for cold and unfriendly, but I think this is more to do with the language barrier. Having said that when girlfriends complained of a fly in her drink, the waiter replied "oh it’s probably because of the lemon" and walked off!!!.
I can see how some people might be disturbed by tacky families there, it is true there were a couple of them there, but it’s just a simple case of walking somewhere else (there is 2 pool areas and a big bar), so you don’t have to mingle with people you don’t gel with.
Spanish people in the Europa come over as very friendly; however remember most are just after taking your money, which brings me onto the prices..To say this is a tax free island you don’t really experience the benefit, unless you smoke. Drinks were a consistent 3 Euros everywhere (though odd bars have 1.5 or even 1 Euro offers on pints, so seek them out in the main shopping precinct.
The local pint "tropical" which is the only choice in quite a lot of the places becomes nauseating after a couple of nights, I was crying out for a decent drink which I found in the Barbicoa (Europa Centre), not keen on Tetley’s but it was fantastic in comparison, the entertainment there is also really good (saw a Scottish comedian there and I was having belly laughs!), the staff are also genuinely friendly, it made a refreshing change!.
I would go back to the altimar, if only for the fantastic beech within walking view, cannot see the beaches in the Maldives beating that one, white sand, warm rippling sea, paradise!.
As the comedian I talked about said "The holiday reps probably told you its ten minutes to the beach...only by [--] hand glider!", so it’s around 30 mins walk to that beech (turn right out of the hotel and keep left all way down the hill), don’t walk back up the hill though, the 2.5 Euros for a taxi is worth it!.
Oh don’t eat the ice-cream at the Altimar, it must be made from local water and it made me live on the toilet till I excluded it from my diet.
T-cook reps were brilliant, same some Euros for the trips, the combo(water, jeeps and camel riding) at around 70 Euros per person was well worth it as was the horse riding.
The Tenerife trip to the Zoo was a good day out too, I would say set another 300-400(2 people) Euros to one side for the trips, unless you want to shop and beach bum all week.
Oh did I mention the weather?....perfecto magnifico!!!!!.
Anyone reading this from Gran Canaria...PLEASE SERVE LOCAL TRADITIONAL FOOD, instead of bloody English food everywhere I went, I can eat that at home, it’s hard to find a place that serves canarian food.
Oh, and if the reps try to persuade you to visit other hotels for 45 Euros discount on trips (timeshare selling) don’t, it wastes 1/2 day walking around an hotel (45 Euros does not make up for a walk round an hotel then being pressurised).
Also the timeshare rep manager was very rude at the end of the tour, tried to make us look stupid, basically he is a right t*sser that thinks he could perhaps change your mind into buying with them by making you uncomfortable. Parasites, be wary!!.
So to summarise:
By wary of free trips, go for the paid ones with T-cook.
Be prepared to eat lukewarm food (though a lot of variety and tasty).
Visit the beach at the bottom of the hill.
Visit barbacoa for entertainment and drinks (meals are pretty good too, basic but tasty and cheap).
1) Family entertainment within Altimar is good, kids seemed to love it.
Avoid the parrot show unless you have kids (a parrot riding a cycle doesn’t make me laugh).
Do see the guitarist (skilled)
2) Some Spanish underplay their English skills to try to make money from you (I asked for a double whisky and got a quad instead!), McD (no I don’t normally go), went king-size meal though I did not request it, one bar brought out free drinks after the meal which they then tried to charge us for (this was not in the Altimar though).
3) Use a low-factor skin cream (5-15, 30 on kids), sleep naked and put the fans on!.
4) Do the paid trips offered by T-Cook.
5) Be prepared to queue for a long time on the return journey while checking in.
6) T-Cook ticket sellers in Manchester are cold and rude without saying thank you, good bye, they should be beaten by a chain.
7) Island Reps are brilliant, warm, and helpful and friendly (thanks Joe!).
8) T-Cook Jets are fun if you are amputated from the knees down, I learned to sleep whilst pivoting on my spine, Ryan Air seemed first class in comparison, forget about leaning your seat back, unless you have the aforementioned passengers behind you that don’t need any leg room, though they do sell “comfort packs” at £5, the plane has ashtrays, that’s how old it is
Despite my critique, it’s the best holiday I have been on by far, just keep that food hot Altimar!

Advice: Its hot, comfortable, breezy, rocky, very hilly, and sells more english food then england.

Activities: Barbacoa for drinks/entertainment,

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    8 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
  • Board Basis:Half Board
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" substandard "

We have just returned from 2 weeks in Alcatraz oops! Altamar. We have been all inclusive in Gran Canaria the last 5 years and have never been treated in such a manner. Staff are very rude and surly. You are treated like a second class citizen, ignored at the bar and made too feel guilty for asking for a drink. All inclusive guests are not allowed to use the waiter service and not allowed to participate in the happy hour. Room cleaned 3 times in 2 weeks, sheets changed twice in 14 days by maid. Asked for clean linen and told would have to make beds myself. After having paid the higher cost of all inclusive a better service and treatment is expected. Will not return to or recommend this holiday to anyone else.

Advice: okay but hilly

Activities: best pub Babacoa nice surroundings and friendly staff

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  • User Rating:
    3 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Sep 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" BRILLIANT "

a fantastic family holiday
would recomend this hotel to anyone
we had a slight problem with small `ants` but we told our rep and had a man come within the hour to get rid of them
2 fantastic pools, very clean hotel itself
dinner was very nice everynight, changed daily
Breakfast got too sickly after the same daily
one bar stood out to our family of 4 - THE BARBACOA
absolutely brilliant there, short walk from the hotel
very nice people in hotel
a few rude waitors
but AMAZING HOTEL OVERALL
DEFINATLY COME HERE WORTH IT !*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Advice: beautiful

Activities: BARBACOA and for a beach PEURTO RICO

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    8 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
  • Board Basis:Half Board
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" TACKY "

Myself, boyfried and son spent 2 weeks at the beginning of August (my 3rd and last time at these apartments) and while we cannot fault the weather, view, balcony, maid service, and other staff we feel the general feel of the Altamar has changed.
We spent 2 weeks surrounded by LOUD, IGNORANT, TACKY English families. The entertainment (if you can call it that) was no doubt what you would get in a cheap Butlins or camp site anywhere in England. Noisy, ignorant people coming and going at all times of the night and early hours of the morning with no thought to other people trying to sleep or even just enjoy the peace and quiet on their balconies. The pool areas have become a bit run down and could def. do with some updating and the food, which was ok, could have benefited from some variety and maybe a bit of local produce instead of greasy fry ups, etc!! Drink prices quite expensive too!
Such a shame because it is a beautiful place.
We would return to Peurto Rico but not to these apartments again.

Advice: Be prepared for tack!!

Activities: EL TORO

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    5 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Aug 2009
  • Board Basis:Self Catering
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" Worst holiday EVER! "

I don't know where to start with this review. Did lots of research into the Altamar before going and the reviews were all fantastic, so was not expecting to have such a horrible time! First impressions were good. Beautiful view from balcony, spacious apartment, but was a walk on balcony so not very private. Although there were 2 sun loungers on balcony was a bit reluctant to use them as people could walk past balcony and see right on.
Bar staff - very very rude. Did not want to know if you were all inclusive. One drink per person, meaning that me and my boyfriend both had to go to the bar, couldn't get each other a drink which is ridiculous! We already paid for the all inclusive so should be able to have a few drinks each. No smiles or manners from staff, would not even make eye contact with you, would just shove your drink down and move onto next person.
One place where you had breakfast, dinner and tea and entertainment on evening. Self catering staff treat like royalty, were waited on. All inclusive were treat like rubbish. No snack bar for all inclusive, you could have a burger or chips or hotdog or toastie but you had to go make it yourself using food that had been left out under the hotplates all day! Food horrible, just lukewarm, very repetitive. Fried eggs left out all day from breakfast, same food every day. If sausages from breakfast left over they would chop them up and put onions on them and serve them at dinner or tea time!!
Got ear infection from the dirty pools that were never cleaned. Rep was very unhelpful, he couldn't be bothered at all. Lots of people said the same thing. So many people got ear infections while we were there and rep did not want to know. Not enough sunbeds to go around. Matresses to go on sunbeds very dirty and never cleaned.
We went on holiday for two weeks and our bed sheets did not get changed till the 13th day. The ceiling fans in the apartment do nothing apart from make clicking noises that keep you awake all night We went in July and it was 50 degrees,unbearable without air conditioning. Plug hole in sink in bathroom smelt like sewage. Told rep about the problems and they were not interested and did nothing to help us.
DO NOT book to stay at the Altamar, you will regret it. Puerto Rico is a lovely place, but do not stay at Altamar.
DO NOT book to go to this hotel

Advice: Beautiful views, very hot, very steep hills but taxis are cheap!

Activities: Happy Valley lovely Indian restaurant. Little Italy at the Europa Centre so cheap and lovely food.

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    2 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" Wat a great holiday "

Im writing this after coming back from the altamar and seeing so many bbad reviews on the place !!!! were these people staying where i was ? Myself, wife and two kids booked the altamar in january and couldnt wait for our two week stay. we arrived at grancanaria airport and had a quick transfer to the hotel. arrived at the hotel at 4 am and the staff were very helpful , my son fell over on the way in but the rep on the coach couldnt have been more helpful , thanks lee . think my son was just tired. anyway after finding our room and settling in we woke up to the most amazing view over looking the pool and the sea. what a fab location !!! we went for breakfast and there was so much choice . my kids loved the english sausages !!! we went to the welcome meeting although we were abit apprehensive about this. weve had bad experiences with other holiday companies before. but thomas cook promised us a £50 holiday voucher, free drink, discount card and two free days out plus a drink just for popping down . all of which we got
meeting all the staff was a great way to start our holiday off. jodie and stuart the thomas cook reps were really helpful and always there. the kids reps were great too . thanks stacey, hayley and tracy yous girls really took care of my kids!!
we booked canarian combo and sioux city at the meeting along with anfi all 3 days out were as promised my littled lad still talks about the jeeps on canarian combo , my wife still laughs about the camels and my daughter loved the beach at anfi along with macys there too
the rooms were spotless , the staff on reception were amazing too and couldnt do enough for you. we found the all inc great too . yes you had to get one drink per person but hey we noticed so many people abusing the all inc we can understand why this happens . brits abroad huh. theres always the ones that moan at anything and abuse facilities!!!
Also it was my little lads birthday and he got a card on the morning from all the staff at thomas cook ,wat a nice gesture
the reps in the hotel even checked up on my lad, josh every day after his little accident on the nite we arrived. all i can say is ive recently been doing flight only holidays but this deal was too good to refuse and if this is a typical thomas cook holiday well ill be back and will be happy to travel with them again ! thanks to everyone at the altamar and thomas cook !!!!

Advice: fab place, great bars and restauranst and beaches

Activities:

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    10 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" very big let down "

having just got back from altarmar aparthotel this has got to be one of the worst hoildays we have ever had.arriving at 3 30 in the morning receptionist not very helpful after giving us the key to room,were on forth floor inbetween lift stops had to carry cases up steep set of stairs,rooms were quite big best thing can say about these apartments.had sheets once in two weeks maid cleaned only came in 3 times aweek.two swimming pools in very clean my son one of twenty two get ear infection.states in reception two pool side bars only one open so have to walk to other pool to fetch drinks all time.reps say remove towels off sun beds if they have towels on before 9'oclock that is a lie never see reps,pool area is never cleaner off.bar staff not very friendly people who were all inclusive were treated like seconed class. they wait on other guests but not on us, they would only allow us one drink per person so i wasnot aloud to get my wife or kids a drink,food was more or else samething almost every night,there is not much choice for kids on night menu if they don't like nuggets and chips they will starve.entertainment at night was drab cannot say anymore about it. location about 5 minuits not many shops open day or night. all in all will like puert rico very much and will go back there but never to the altarmar apartment.just like to say hello to mick alison,ben,emma,paul amy like to see you lot again

Advice: very hot all year round

Activities: puerto rico shopping centre

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    1 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" not so good "

Hi, i have just returned from the altimar, this is my 5th time staying at this hotel, i decided to upgrade to all inclusive at 30 euro per day per person over 12. what a let down wish i had never done it.I have always had a great time at this hotel but now they have gone all inclusive it has spoilt it, they make you feel second class, only give you 1 drink at a time and through it at you. Entertainment has gone a bit also, i would say around 3 good acts in the 2 weeks i stayed. Very hot was 54 when we were there. Maid service was a joke did not get clean sheets until 11th day. If you are going ask to be put in block A this block has been renovated and was told rooms were cooler.
Altimar need to get back to their usual standard, dont think i will be back.

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  • User Rating:
    4 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" 2nd class "

My holiday at the Altamar, was ok, the rooms were good, with good balconys, the pools and views were good. The food seemed to be warm not hot,this was not a one of, it was every night. The entertainment was ok. The bad part of the holiday was when you wanted a drink from the bar. There was very rarely a smile from any of the bar staff, and they were very ignorant. The first week you could get two drinks at a time, then over night they stopped it, and would only let you have one, because they said people were giving drinks to half boarders, or self catering familys, which meant that all four of us had to go to the bar every time,which on a couple of times resulted in us loosing our table. There was also alot of confusion about what drinks you was aloud in the all inclusive holiday, one day you could have a certain brand of spirit then the next day you wasnt, when you tried to get any explanation, they just said becuase you wasnt aloud. If you was stood at the bar with other people, they always served the people that wasn't all inclusive. Through out the second week there was alot of argueing going on with the all inclusive holiday makers and the bar stay. Even though we paid good money for the holiday we were made to feel 2nd class, this was fealt by every body that you spoke too. I spoke to the reps about this on two seperate times, and there excuse was that it was there first year doing the all inclusive holiday package, which did'nt make our holiday any better, they just gave us a complaints form to fill in, which we did but never got any feed back on it. For the last 8 years I have done all inclusive holidays, and I can honestly say that the service at the Altamar, due to the bar staff, has got to be one of the worst that I have had. My wife and I are not big drinkers,by any means, but when you go to the bar you would expect to be able to take two drinks at a time , one for my wife and me. If we go out at home I don't make her get up and come to the bar with me every time that we want a drink, so why should I make her when on holiday?
All in all because they had'nt done there home work, about what All Inclusive is all about , it spoilt our Holiday, and I will be very surprised if more bad reviews dont turn up, during the next couple off weeks unless they change there policys.

Advice: If you are in to keep fit this is the holiday for you(because of all the steps in the hotel).

Activities:

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  • User Rating:
    5 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" altamar is brll! "

Me, my husband and children have recently come back from a holiday at the altamar apts. the kids are 4,9 and 12 and were occupied all two weeks. The reception was quick and effiecient for check in and maid service was fantastic. We found the all inclusive was great for the family (a bit annoying with the one drink at a time rule)and the food was suprisingly nice. As it was a first time on the island we made the effort to go to the welcome meeting and got some really good info from the reps. The kids were signed up for the kids club and the girls in there were great. We booked Sioux City and The Combo trip with reps which were worth every penny. The kids absolutely loved siuox city, they wanted to go again for the second week. It was amazing to see the boys eyes light up with amazement when the cowboy and idians having a shootout and the knife throwing made us sit on the edge of our seats. We got free kids places on both trips and took up the offer to go to anfi beach with the lady at the meeting, which also saved us 45€ off our trips! I must say anfi was one of the most beautiful places we visited. it is a timeshare resort, but they really looked after the boys, we knew exactly what we were going to and they were not pushy at all. the carribean beach at anfi is out of this world. I recommend any family to do that day to anfi, as they will be pleseantly suprised! stay away from the street touts for it though, book it with the rep in hotel. The girl will be completly honest and tell you what to expect and give you the 45€ for going. Overall our holiday was fantastic. Thomas Cook did us proud. will go back next year.

Advice: beautiful resort. Go to the welcome event to find out the best things to do and what to avoid!

Activities: Sioux City, Combo and anfi beach all with thomas cook rep

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    9 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:All Inclusive
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" our hiolday "

i took my two daughters on hoilday to the altamar apartments on 29th june to the 13th july
and i ahve to say our stay was good the rooms were clean the staff i found were very helpful.The noly bad thing was the pools i never got a sun lounger by the pool because i am sure people were getting up at 6am to put towels on the sun beds which i thought was qiute sad, so i didnt spend much time by the pool.The entertaiment was very good gazza and this team were 20 out of 10 so thank you for that, i went on a couple of trips one to sioux city and that is a must and we went to see the camels and that was great as well.And yes i do plan to go back next year but this time i will get up a five to get a sun bed lol.i only saw two cockroachers and they were in the street and not near the hotel.

Advice: lots of hills, great sunshine, and a nice place

Activities: we eat out every night and had great food at flicks which is five minutes from the altamar

Good for: Beach 

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  • User Rating:
    8 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jun 2009
  • Board Basis:Self Catering
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently

" Not so Good "

The overal holiday was good in itself but the altamr was crap. Our money was stolen from the hotel and they couldnt offer us any recondolences even though we were slef catering. very noisey at night you could hear the people next door, the restaurant and bar were sooo expensive and over rated! would not go back to that hotal again. entertainment was very poor and tacky!

Advice: dont go

Activities:

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  • User Rating:
    5 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:Self Catering
  • Tour Operator:Thomas Cook

" Fantastic Holiday! "

Me and my boyfriend (both 2 years old) spent alot of time searching reviews before booking this hol, and honestly they are correct!
These apartments are brilliant, staff are quick to get you checked in and safety deposit boxes pretty cheap at 20 euros.. Room was spotless. Apartments are very big and spacious, with big fridge and freezer. Bathroom very modern, and terrace balcony area comes with table and chairs, plus two sun beds perfect for when pool area gets a little busy.
Celing fans are in the bedroom and living area, which come in very handy as the nights are very warm! Major plus is we saw one cockroach on the balcony all two weeks and was not bothered by any other insects.
The maid service is FANTASTIC they come every other day and really are very good, we often left mucky pots due to rushing out, and on returning the maids had done the pots plus putting them away!
The pool area is fab, two large pools with acitivities taking place during 2-4 such as football, scuba school and killer pool. 4 till 5 is happy hour with buy one get one free drinks, and 2 games off cash bingo, with big cash prizes around 200 euro. (although the bingo song is annoying!)
Out and about the resort a fantastic place to eat in the Europa Centre is Flicks, run by Tony and Sue from Hull. FANTASTIC food, at very cheap prices. We ate there 8 times out of the 4 nights, great service and made to feel really welcome. A great bar in this centre we recommend also is 'Mary D's' which constantly have shot games, entertainment and karaoke happening.
A brilliant holiday, and the Altamar is definitly the place to stay!

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  • User Rating:
    9 / 10
  • Date of Holiday:Jul 2009
  • Board Basis:Self Catering
  • Tour Operator:Booked Independently
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